Life can knock you down but girls and women learned they’re strong enough to get back up.

The inaugural Power of Being A Girl all-day conference was held at St. Thomas Aquinas High School for about 150 young women between Grade 7-12 from Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and Kenora Catholic District School Board on Friday, Oct. 20.

Stephanie Petiquan, executive director at A Women’s Place Kenora and coordinator of the conference, said it’s important teenage girls learn just how much they’re valued in society today, both as a supporter and a leader.

“Teen girls need to understand the amount of influence they have, not only to other girls around them but the influence they have in the community and how it is them and with other girls they can make a difference and change what they don’t like about themselves, about their community, about anything and they don’t have to sit back and watch,” said Petiquan.

In addition to A Women’s Place Kenora other groups who participated in the conference were the Kenora Sexual Assault Centre, Ne-Chee Friendship Centre, Métis Nation of Ontario, Ontario Native Women’s Association and the Kenora Chiefs’ Advisory.

The students participated in a variety of workshops learning about self-esteem, boundaries, empowerment and lateral violence, or what is more commonly known as gossip. In the age of social media it was a particularly important topic to address to let the young women know how once something is online it’s virtually impossible to take it back.

Guest speakers included Sue Devlin, mental health liaison for the KCDSB, elder Cathy Lindsay, Mariette Martineau, religious and family life coordinator at STAHS. Petiquan also shared some of her personal journey of being able to see many places in the world through teaching.

“Growing up I kind of stood out from everybody. My mother was someone who spoke out against anything that was unfair and unjust,” said Petiquan. “I’ve taught around the north and I’ve been around many girls who have shrunk into the shadows. I’m trying to get them out and show them that they’re worthy and there’s something about them people can benefit from.”

STAHS guidance counsellor Katie Jackson shared her personal struggle with a poor body image when she was a teen, despite being one of those popular girls who appeared “to have it all” and told them to talk to and about themselves the way they’d talk about someone they love, which is called positive self-talk.

The lunchtime keynote speaker was Daniela Tsentouros from DT Solutions who talked about social media hazards and how girls and women can protect themselves online from becoming victims of human trafficking.

Petiquan said when she watches her nieces grow up in today’s society with social media she wants to make sure they’re knowledgeable about all the dangers and pressures out in the world.

“It’s OK. Just express yourself and eventually we’ll get through this,” said Petiquan.